By restating its positions against any criticism of its practices, especially before the Human Rights Council, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia rejected the positions of the Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen.
In an interactive dialogue of the Oral Update Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen during the 46th session of the Human Rights Council, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Abdul Aziz Al-Wasel, stated that his country “does not recognize the group’s mandate, its work efficiency, and objectivity of its approach.” He considered that the group’s reports are misleading and further deepening the crisis. Al-Wasel noted that the group’s practices confirm that the group is not neutral and does not understand the reality on the ground. He added that it is far from professional and lacks objectivity.
The group had welcomed the decision of the United States and Italy to stop the arms exports to Saudi Arabia and indicated that the suffering of Yemenis continues to worsen, as malnutrition threatens children and hospitals and medical personnel are still targeted.
The report emphasized that all parties to the conflict in Yemen, including the Saudi-led coalition, committed serious crimes, violated international law, and caused an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
Several UN reports and positions have confirmed the responsibility of the Saudi-led coalition for massacres against civilians since the beginning of the war in March 2015. In June 2016, the United Nations listed Saudi Arabia on a blacklist of warring parties killing children due to its responsibility for the killing and maiming of thousands of children in Yemen.